Discover how to create stunning photo manipulations in Photoshop. In this course, you'll learn everything from photographing models to creating dark conceptual artworks. If you enjoy our photo manipulation tutorials, you will absolutely love this course.
Preview of the Final Result

Tutorial Resources
Step 1
Create a new 2000x2200 px document in Photoshop and fill it with white. Open the sky image and use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) to select the sky part and drag it onto the top of the white canvas using the Move Tool (V).

Step 2
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation and set it as Clipping Mask. Reduce the Saturation values to -35:
Step 3
Make a Color Balance adjustment layer (set as Clipping Mask) and change the Midtones settings:
Step 4
In this step we'll make the underwater part. Create a Color Fill layer and pick the color #0f5164. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to draw a selection on the lower part of the canvas. Click the second icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to this layer and you should have a similar result like below:


Step 5
Make a Curves adjustment layer to brighten the top of the underwater part as we aim to add the main light source to the middle top. On this layer mask, activate the Brush Tool (B) and select a soft round one with black color. Use this brush to erase the bottom to keep some shadow there.

Step 6
Create another Curves adjustment layer to darken the underwater part.
Step 7
Open the Starry textures pack and select the first one to add to the underwater part. Change this layer mode to Screen 100% and add a mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to reduce the noise and dots opacity.


Step 8
Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to desaturate the noise.
Step 9
Isolate the fish from the background and add him to the middle of the underwater area.
Step 10
Create a Color Fill layer (set as Clipping Mask) and pick the color #125e72. Lower the opacity of this layer to 50%.

Step 11
Make a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and bring the Saturation values down to -45:

Step 12
Create a Photo Filter adjustment layer and pick the color #23a7f3.

Step 13
Create a new layer, change the mode to Overlay 100% and fill with 50% gray. Activate the Dodge and Burn Tool (O) with Midtones Range, Exposure about 15-20% to refine the light and shadow on the fish to fit the background. You can see how I did it with Normal mode and the result with Overlay mode.

Step 14
Make a new layer and use a soft brush with the color #1e4c5f to paint on the contour of the fish. Change this layer mode to Color Dodge 60% and add a mask to this layer. Use a soft black brush to reduce the light around the mouth's area.